A/N: I actually don't know how the sewer system works (shocking I know right?) so I actually don't know if the road would collapse or even if there are even pillars down there, but in this universe it does! Nonetheless here is the second chapter as promised!
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter: 2
Tori sighed happily as she opened the door to the balcony of Jason's old safe house. The warehouse was now their permanent home. It took a lot of work just to get that warehouse to be their home. A lot of paperwork and check ins and money, but it was theirs. They could have bought any old mansion or apartment or even a penthouse in the city if they wanted to, but the noise kept Tori awake at night and the warehouse was theirs. It was just home to them. It was something that was theirs and theirs alone. Every time she set foot in the home, she smiled. They had changed quite a bit of the warehouse. They'd added extra rooms for their nieces and nephews if they came for a visit as well as guest rooms in case Ali or Cameron or Liam and Nadya came.
Downstairs was an assortment of a garage and training room. They'd gotten battle ropes, weights, punching bags, shooting range for guns, bow and arrows, and throwing knives. Tori even ordered an uneven bar set and a balance beam so she could practice her gymnastics and acrobatics. It was truly a home for them. It was where they were happy. And it was also the only place where you could walk around openly in your vigilante suit without anyone seeing. The bedroom was the same, only with a new wall. Where it had once opened up to the living room and kitchen, it was now closed off so there was a bit more privacy. Other than those changes, the warehouse remained the same.
Tori undid the clasp of her cloak and let it drop to the ground before moving to her dresser to get some more comfortable clothes. As she did so she spotted the photo of her and Jason on their wedding day and couldn't help but smile. Not at the memory of that photo itself, but of how he proposed. She got lost in the memory, it was like being pulled back under the covers of a warm cozy bed.
Tori was unsure as to why Jason asked to meet her on Gotham Bridge, but he had. She didn't know what to expect. He'd told her to dress conspicuous which made her roll her eyes. That was all she'd been doing lately. Thanks to the press swarming her where ever she went. Tori had just decided to turn Crowne Manor into an orphanage for Gotham kids. She used her own inheritance money to do so. Even using such an amount to rebuild and decorate the new orphanage, she still had enough to live comfortably. Because of that decision the media has been obsessed with her. They wanted to know what she thought of the process, how well it was going, what the design plans were, etc. And due to all the fuss about the orphanage they wanted to know more about her personal life. What did she do for a living, why did she even work for a living when she was rich enough not to, why work at Gotham Academy, was she seeing anyone. The questions kept coming. So often that Tori hid out at the safe house, not that she or Jason minded, but it also meant that she'd have to avoid paparazzi and reporters, which was harder to do than one may think.
Anyway, she was on the bridge waiting for Jason dressed in a long black peacoat with sunglasses. It might not be that conspicuous, but Tori still felt like she stuck out like a sore thumb. She spotted Jason quickly. he was leaning against the railing looking out over the water, his foot tapping restlessly. He was nervous about something. Tori smiled and walked over to him,
"Howdy stranger," she said, leaning on the railing a few feet away from him. She didn't know how he'd feel about being caught in a photo with her when the media was in such a frenzy,
"Hey Toria," he said, smiling as he said her nickname. The one that jogged her memories of being with him romantically back when all she had to worry about was amnesia and whether or not Mac—the scientist who kidnapped her, erased her memories and implanted a chip in her which fused to her nervous system giving her unusual abilities—would find her again. He'd kidnapped other kids too and they were still trying to find them. Life was simpler back then. They didn't know the gravity of the whole situation then, things were almost easier than they had been four years ago, when the Court of Owls got a hold of her and turned her into a Talon,
"You're frowning. What are you thinking of?"
"I'm thinking about the past. It just crept up on me," she said, "Why did you ask to meet me here. We could have just gone to the safe house to talk about…whatever you wanted to discuss," Jason looked sheepish, a little grin forming before he spoke,
"I don't know if you remember, but this is where we had our first official date. After I met you on the rooftop all those years ago, after we had our first real kiss I met you right at the entrance to the bridge and we walked back and forth for hours just talking," Tori sorted through her mindbogglingly messed up array of memories. Even after all these years she was still remembering things that happened years ago, or forgetting things that had just been said. That aspect of her mind had been permanently messed up due to the amount of times all her memories had been forcefully erased. She still remembered most things, but she did forget things at times,
"I vaguely remember that. We walked until the sun came up…and…and there was a cupcake?"
"It was New Year's Eve. I got it so you'd have some sweet treat that night. You had a big sweet tooth back parents…well your Mom, had a big party every year and you snuck away to see me,"
"I seem to do that a lot," Tori said with a grin. Sneaking out was what had started everything, but there was nothing that could change that. Though the mention of her mom sent a twinge through her heart. She, her step-dad and dutiful nannie had been murdered as a result of her involvement with Mac and the Court of Owls. It had just been after Tori discovered that the man she thought was her father…wasn't her father. Jack Drake was her father, making Tim Drake her half-brother,
"I think it was worth it,"
"What is this about?" Tori asked. Jason smiled before pulling out a pile of papers. He slid them along the railing and Tori snatched it up,
"What do you think about that?" he asked. Tori read the paper. She read it again before looking at Jason wide-eyed,
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I am undoubtedly sure,"
"You know the media will be hounding you for a long, long time,"
"I know,"
"What did Bruce say about this?"
"He's completely on board,"
"You know this means you'll have to actually pay taxes, right?"
"I'm prepared to do that,"
"You'll need a job,"
"I have a few lined up,"
"Do you have a cover story?"
"Bruce and I came up with a story last night,"
"You decided to do this last night?" Tori exclaimed, surprised. Jason nodded, grinning, "You're really doing this?" Tori asked, shocked, surprised and elated,
"You said it yourself, you want to tell people you're with me and not have them laugh at you,"
"That was four years ago and I don't need to tell people you're with me…I already have you and that's more than I need,"
"But I want to marry you," Jason said, "And this is the only way,"
"What?" Tori asked, stunned,
"I want to marry you," Jason said, pulling out a small black box and placing it on the railing, flicking sliding it across the railing and into her waiting hand. With a sly and barely managed grin she opened it, "And the only way to do that is to legally resurrect myself," Tori was stunned, surprised…she couldn't describe the uplifting feeling she was experiencing. It was like she was flying, it was like she was standing still frozen and everything was moving in fast forward. It was like she was experiencing a runner's high—where she felt like she could run for miles and miles and miles without stopping—which she could, but it was still an amazing feeling. She nodded. She couldn't get the words out but she nodded clutching both the box and the papers as she bounded over to Jason and threw her arms around him,
"Yes. A thousand times yes." She murmured into his ear.
Tori shook her head at the memory. She can't believe he gave her the papers first. But it was perfect. She wouldn't have it any other way. They married pretty much as soon as he was legally resurrected. It happened so fast that the media barely caught on in time, but they still managed to catch them before their honeymoon. Pictures and a thousand questions and stories and everything about their romance was soon public. They both hated it, but they were married, they had each other…nothing else mattered. Some gossips criticized how both Tori and Tim married young. Tori at twenty-three and Tim at twenty-four. They couldn't explain that with how they spent their night lives it meant that they could die at any moment, any night could be their last. They could die young so they might as well experience all aspects and walks of life as soon as possible. They did things earlier than most would and they were okay with that. They both knew the one they loved was the only one they would ever love, and while many didn't understand that, they had to accept that. Of course Tori was in no way easy to kill, but the amount of assassins after her created a constant target on her back. It was still annoying to hear people talking about it, but Tori learned to tune them out. Even with all the gossip it was one of the happiest years of her life—and then Danbury had to ruin it. Tori sighed, shaking her head, erasing the thought as soon as it formed.
Instead she inhaled and paused, she smelled food. Her stomach rumbled. Opening the door she peered out into the living room/kitchen to see a tall dark haired man standing over the stove, a steaming pot before him. The lights were still off, but she could see him fine. He was barefoot, wearing nothing but a pair of red boxers. His bags were by the front door. Tori smiled and crept over to where Jason stood silently. Without making a sound she wrapped her arms around him,
"I thought you weren't back until three," she murmured into his back,
"I came home early and thought I'd surprise you with a midnight snack,"
"It's two, but close enough," Tori said as he turned to face her and gave her a kiss,
"How was patrol?"
"Smelly," she replied, hopping up onto the countertop next to the stove, "What are you making,"
"Soup," he said simply,
"You mean the soup I froze from the last time I made it?" she asked raising an eyebrow,
"Okay fine. I'm not 'making' it, I'm heating up the one meal you can actually cook on your own, but—," Jason interrupted himself to grab a bowl and pour the steaming food into it, "—it's still food," Tori chuckled, pulling out two spoons from the drawer underneath her and handed one to Jason,
"Food is food," she agreed. Tori waited, letting Jason eat his fill first because she generally ate more then two and a half people combined. Male Talons ate more than three people combined. She knew from experience. Jason handed her what was left in the bowl and she started to eat. Tori had invited Danbury to dinner one night when he'd come to discuss something with Tori. There hadn't been enough food for the both of them…and the conversation ended badly. Tori frowned,
"What's wrong?" Jason asked, as Tori set aside the bowl,
"Nothing," Tori replied, leaning back on her hands. Jason shook his head and rolled his eyes before leaning forward and placing his hands on either side of her on the counter,
"Liar," he stated, Tori rolled her eyes herself,
"So?" she stated,
"Something upset you,"
"It's no big deal…I just got a bit mad tonight,"
"Did anything happen?" Jason asked, concerned. Tori still tended to go off her rocker when provoked…and people could get hurt when she was like that. The anger came from nowhere and it took a lot to snap her out of it. That much anger combined with the strength, speed and endurance of a Talon…did not end well usually. She'd gotten better with it, much better over the years, but it still leapt out on her sometimes. Tori found that the more time passes between each slip, the harder it was for her to snap out of it when it happened again. Jason, though not known for his own restraint, did understand that killing wasn't something Tori wanted to do and would be empathetic every time it happened even if he thought the other guy deserved it,
"No…I just snapped at Steph,"
"Oh…pfft, I thought you meant something serious happened," Jason said, "So you hurt Blondie's feelings. She'll get over it,"
"She's pregnant. I feel bad," Tori replied, "It was over…nothing,"
"…nothing? You said that strangely," Jason said, leaning closer,
"No I didn't," Tori said, trying to hide her grin as he snuck a kiss to her neck,
"Yes you did," he replied, stealing another. Tori could feel herself unwind, like a cat as she wrapped her arms gently around his neck,
"How was Bialya?" she asked breathlessly as he trailed kisses up and down the side of her neck,
"Hot…sticky," he said,
"Kill any warlords?" she asked,
"Plenty,"
"Good," she said pulling back and kissing Jason deeply. He pulled her closer, his hand grazing the torn and ripped area of her suit, he pulled back surprised,
"What the hell happened here?" he asked,
"A little run in with Killer Croc," Tori said shrugging, "No big deal," that brought her back to the last conversation she had before jumping into the sewers and she frowned again,
"There's that frown again…what's wrong Toria?" Jason asked brushing a strand of hair away from her face. It may be dark in the room, but he could still see her biting her lip. A telltale sign she was worried or troubled,
"Jason…I—I want a baby," she said. Jason stilled, he was quiet for a moment before letting out a sigh,
"Tori—you know what Danbury said," he started. She felt a flash of anger,
"Yes. I know what he said! He said I might not be able to have children. Might. Not definitely not, but might not!"
"I know Tori. I know. But we've been trying for a year and a half and nothing,"
"That doesn't mean we give up,"
"I know. But you remember as well as I do what Danbury said. He said female Talons rarely have kids, not because they died…everything still works right, but irregularly. You're underweight regarding body fat thanks to the intensive training they forced you through, and even with how much you eat—," he gestured to the finished bowl of soup, "—you can't gain it back. You use up too much energy, healing or fighting or training for it to change. Your metabolism is too fast,"
"I know," Tori whispered brokenly, "It's just something I've wanted for a long time. I'd daydream about what they'd look like, I had names picked out…although that was in first grade when I had a crush on Dylan O'Conner…and then I forgot about it later and didn't remember it until I got out of that Lab and by then all the crazy Bionic shit was happening and then I became a Talon and never really thought about it again but I never thought that it would never be possible,"
"We could adopt," Jason said,
"It isn't the same," Tori replied, "If there was definitely no hope, I'd be all for adoption, but there's still a chance," Jason was quiet before answering,
"I know,"
"You want kids don't you?" Tori asked, she'd thought of that often since Danbury came and told her. She didn't know how or whether to even ask Jason's own opinion,
"I do, Toria," Jason said, "I honestly do…I never thought I would…but I really do. I want to hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet on the floor and peanut butter fingerprints on the table," Tori smiled, despite being upset,
"But if it's not meant to be…I'd be okay. I have you and that's all I need," Tori gave him a kiss and stayed with her arms around him in a hug,
"I love you," she said,
"I love you too," he replied before hoisting her up into his arms and turning towards their bedroom, "We'll keep trying. But either way I'll love you, whether or not we have kids, whether or not I ever get to eat chocolate again without you yelling at me and whether or not the world ends tomorrow morning," he said as he plopped her down on their bed,
"I know," Tori said with a small smirk as she snaked a hand around his neck and pulled him to her on the bed.
A/N: Yeah...so if a woman gets below a certain percent of body mass index your periods can stop preventing you from having children because your body is like: oh, they're unhealthy, they can't recreate. So things like eating disorders or extreme exercise can cause your period to stop. Even boys are considered unhealthy if their fat percent drops to a certain percentage. For girls it's 15%(due to the fact that we need a certain amount of fat to actually have our periods/have children) and for boys it's 5 or 8%. Some sites have a range but that's what I've mainly seen and heard from health websites and my health class from high school.
I don't know how I feel about popping that memory in, it felt a little forced to me so I hope it wasn't too awkward or bad. Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter on Monday and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
Also here are everyone's ages:
Alfred - he's immortal at this point, I don't even have an age for him - and I don't think I want to give him one because old age = DEATH :'[
Bruce - Uh...fifties-ish?
Dick - 33 omg...he's so old :o
Barbara - 34 omg...she's even older :o
Grant - 31
Riley - 30
Jason - 27
Liam - 26/27(he's a full year older than Tori rather than 10/11 months like Stephanie and Tim)
Tim - 26
Stephanie - 26
Tori - 25 (She'll turn 26 in August when it rolls around in the story)
Ali - 21 omg she can legally drink :o
Damian - 18
Cameron - 18
Adam - 22
